Later, she joined them with a scrubbed face, arms, and hands. She looked enchanting in the simple dress she wore. Cailean stood as she came to sit at the table. Mrs. Logan served Cailean first as their guest and Cailean stood again when Mrs. Logan joined them at the table. His polite manners impressed Elayne; his mother would be proud of him. They had a lively discussion as they drank ale with their dinner of chicken, roast potatoes, and vegetables.
“Now, with the garden enlarged, what plants do ye want to grow?”
Mrs. Logan said, “Potatoes, carrots, and cabbage would be wonderful.”
Elayne added, “Peppermint, elderberry, bog myrtle, heath-er, and lavender would be beneficial to make medicinal tinctures, and we could use the plants to scent our soaps. Roses would be nice too, if we could find a wild plant.”
“When I am out hunting, I will look for the plants for ye. It would be good to ken where they grow, as I’m sure others in the clan would like them in their gardens. It would aid the castle healer too.”
William interjected, “Elayne, I need to go to Duncan’s, but why don’t ye stay with Mrs. Logan and Cailean to keep them company this evening? I will let the farrier ken ye won’t be working tonight.”
“Thank ye, Papa. I’ll be back to help him tomorrow night.”
“Please show me where ye would like to plant the vegetables and the herbs.” Elayne looked at Mrs. Logan before she replied.
“Ye go ahead with Cailean and explain to him where ye would like to plant things before he must take his leave. After his hard work today, I’m sure he’s eager to join his family and must have other things to attend to.”
“Aye, Mrs. Logan.”
Cailean stood and led the way to the garden.
“Thank ye, Cailean, for doing this work for us today,” Elayne said. “Ye worked very hard all day, and it looks wonderful.”
“I am happy to do it for ye,” he whispered. Elayne explained where she thought it best for the vegetables and herbs to go.
“Do ye think ye can find the herbs easily in the forest?”
“If I can’t, I will ask the healer to gather them for me.” He smiled at her softly under the waning moon. Cailean took her hand in his and led her to the side of the forge, where he kissed her tenderly.
“I ken why ye are tired, lass. Ye never stop working. Ye amaze me and put others to shame. I appreciate yer good advice. It will stand me in good stead in my travels. I gained a deeper understanding of others’ perspectives.” Cailean kissed her lips softly again. “I look forward to meeting ye at the well tomorrow afternoon.” As he began walking to the courtyard to return to thecastle, he heard her deep sigh. He turned to get another glimpse of her, and warmth filled his chest when he noticed Elayne had worn the blue ribbon he had given her.
Aware how little time they had together before he had to leave, all Cailean could think about was Elayne. She had become like the air he breathed.
Chapter Seven
The Journey
In her quiet corner of the kitchen, Elayne felt the warmth from the hearth. The embers glowed, the sparks flying up the stone chimney, and she heard her father snoring from his room, even through his closed door. His sonorous snores were louder after he first fell asleep. The sound wasn’t what kept Elayne from sleep. Memories of Cailean circled in her head like a kaleidoscope. Watching him digging in the garden and pounding the nails into the wood, Elayne couldn’t help but notice the play of the powerful muscles in his arms. Observing how his muscles flexed and bulged left her warm, restless, and with a dry mouth. His eyes had always mesmerized her. But there was more to the man than his eyes and his lips.
His lips looked soft, but he had been more demanding when he had crushed his own to hers as he pulled her to his chest in an embrace, as if he wanted to claim her. They had been friends. He was her only friend, the only person with whom she had shared her burdens and worries. With wide, questioning eyes, Elayne had asked him innumerable questions about things she burned with desire to ken. Questions that she would have asked her father if he wasn’t working every day. Questions she would haveasked her grandparents if she had them. Confessions she might have shared with a girlfriend if she had one.
Now she felt plagued and confused. Her heart beat faster and she couldn’t catch her breath. His kisses made her tingle all over. What did they mean? Did he treat other women the same way? Never kissed before Cailean, she had no experiences for comparison. When near Cailean, Elayne smelled his scent of the pine, fir forests, and leather. So masculine that it stirred her senses, and when he kissed her, she lost focus and melted into him. It felt wonderful and warm to be held in his arms and kissed by him. She felt safe and cared for in ways she had not experienced before.
The next morning, Elayne worked diligently in the forge until after lunch. Her father told her she could have the afternoon free.
His next announcement surprised her: “I will interview a few lads in the village and out on the farms today to identify who may be best suited to become my apprentice. I have thought about yer recommending another apprentice to learn my trade and I agree, the time has come for me to teach someone else. Ye work too hard for a lass and I ken how tired ye must be each day. I appreciate yer hard work and great skill. I ken there are other things better suited to a young lady. Enjoy yer afternoon free today. I will be at dinner and afterward at the farrier’s.”
“Thank ye. Papa, Ye ken Cailean, the man who brought the deer to ye. Who is he and how do ye ken him?”
“Aye, I have kent Cailean many years. He is the laird’s son. His youngest son.”
“The laird’s son?” Elayne was dumbfounded and astonished. She had ken Cailean for years. But he had never told her hisfather was the laird. She wondered why he had never shared that with her.This changes everything.
Elayne cleaned and put her tools away. In the kitchen, she washed her face and hands and changed into another dress. She walked to the well carrying a small empty basket, took a cool drink to quell her thirst, and greeted others who had gathered there to talk. Everything was changing around her all at the same time.
Cailean planned to leave in a couple of days. Her father had finally relented and agreed to an apprentice.
One thing that hadn’t changed was that she would continue hammering at the forge for now and would be alone again without Cailean to confide in. She had been without him last summer and early fall when he had been engaged in clan wars. But this time it was different. And she didn’t ken why. Cailean strode up beside her and nodded to the others, who chatted by the well.
